sail-world.com -- RS:One class powers on with the NeilPryde Racing Series

RS:One class powers on with the NeilPryde Racing Series

Sat, 22 Jun 2013

The RS:One class pushes on with the NeilPryde Racing Series in collaboration with the Extreme Sailing Series and in other organised independent events. The '24 Hour Auchan's Drive Team Relay' is scheduled for the 29th to 30th of June with a special freestyle tow in demonstration by Steven Van Broeckhoven and Maarten van Ochten to be performed in the Dunkerque Marina where the Tour de France a la Voile will start its 2013 sailing tour.

70 international racers will then compete at the European Championships in Brest from the first to 7th July followed by the World Championships to be held in Istanbul (Olympic city candidate for the 2020 Games), and federations championships in France and Brazil.

The RS:One Class and NeilPryde have also supported two windsurfing challenges performed by the RS:X Mexican champion, Demita Vega de Lille and a 40-year-old passionate windsurfer from Dunkerque, Anthony Rigaut.

Demita concluded an incredible crossing around the Island of Cozumel (Mexico) in 7hrs and 10min on April 30th, the Mexican Children's Day. Demita wanted to dedicated the crossing to kids from her island and to send them a message that we should never give up chasing our dreams. In gusty wind blowing between 15 to 20 knots and variable sea conditions including rough seas at the beginning of the crossing, Demita completed an incredible performance by blowing away her expected crossing time of 10 hours. Despite having it done in three hours less than predicted, it had been more physically demanding than expected. She was so glad and thankful for having the right equipment to fulfill this crossing.

The RS:One rig performed smoothly through the rough conditions and what surprised Demita the most is that nothing broke, the equipment was in the same shape as when she started. She could not say the same thing about her own body!

Anthony Rigaut has accomplished another stunning challenge but very far from the paradisiacal Mexican warmth and crystal clear waters. To celebrate the 30 year anniversary of his club, the OGS, which he has been a member of since his youth, and to mark his entrance into the fourth decade of life, he decided to windsurf for 33 straight hours in the OGS lake, close to Dunkerque. The conditions were rough with gusty freezing wind and a temperature of around four degrees despite the fact that it was the end of May in France. Anthony had to battle against this tough condition but also against the pain, loneliness, doubt and hunger for 33 hours straight.

The RS:One was again the right choice for this performance with a light rig and a board that delivers good performance with great forgiveness. Anthony accomplished his challenge and the emotion was evident in his eyes at the finish line where all his friends and family welcomed their hero.